It’s as easy to spend a little, or a lot of money on a bottle of wine and feel equally disappointed. I always recommend folks enlist the services of their sommelier or wine merchant, a real person, with a palate and some experience, to facilitate the selection process. They can get to know your likes, budget, and lifestyle, which will help them pinpoint wines you will love for yourself, and wines to give as gifts!
These short, non-technical wine reviews have point scores to help you find wines in large and small shops near you, and online, at a variety of price points. Our selections today are the 20 best wines under 20 dollars.
Argentina
2015 Salentein Cabernet Sauvignon Valle de Uco Mendoza Argentina, $19 (91 points)
Mid-weight, chewy and dry with notes of blackberry, cassis, cedar, brown mushroom, fennel seed and mint.
Austria
2017 Loimer Lois Gruner Veltliner Niederosterreich, $17 (91 points)
Tingly, light and dry with lime zest, dried herbs, talc and white rose.
California
2017 Fetzer Echo Ridge Sauvignon Blanc California, $10 (90 points)
Light, crisp, juicy and dry with notes of lemon, lime, honeydew, spring pea and poblano.
2017 Lange Twins Sangiovese Rose Lodi, $15 (91 points)
Deliciously refreshing and dry with notes of lemon, apricot, watermelon, dried herbs and violet.
2015 Bogle Merlot California, $9 (91 points)
Smooth, dry and complex with notes of blackberry, plum, fig, black olive, vanilla, dark chocolate and espresso.
Chile
2016 Cousino Macul Isadora Sauvignon Gris Valle del Maule, $15 (90 points)
Full, crisp and dry with notes of lemongrass, white pepper, peach and nectarine.
2015 Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Selection Valle del Rapel, $16 (88 points)
Supple and subtle with notes of cherry, red plum and cassis.
2015 Veramonte Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley, $11 (89 points)
Full and lightly chewy with notes of cherry, cassis, black olive and cedar.
France
2015 Chateau Fontenille Bordeaux, $15 (91 points)
Softly chewy, fresh and dry Merlot with notes of red plum, cassis, sausage and cedar.
Greece
2017 Domaine Papagiannakos Natural Savatiano Athens, $17 (91 points)
Light, dry, fresh and creamy with notes of mandarin, marzipan, chamomile and sea salt.
Italy
2017 Zenato Lugana di San Benedetto, $16 (90 points)
Light, supple, fresh and dry with notes of lemon, tangerine, sage and wildflower.
2016 Mastroberardino Mastro Greco Campania, $16 (89 points)
Light, mellow and dry with notes of lemon curd, tangerine, violet and pink rose.
2017 Villa Antinori Toscana Bianco, $15 (90 points)
Light, dry and fresh with notes of lemon custard, almond sliver, chamomile and sea salt.
2017 Tormaresca Chardonnay Puglia, $12 (90 points)
Zingy, lively and dry with notes of lemon curd, peach, graham cracker and nutmeg.
2016 Santa Cristina Toscano Rosso, $13 (91 points)
Lightly chewy, fresh and dry Sangiovese/Syrah/Merlot blend with notes of strawberry, cherry, cumin, coriander seed, cocoa and seared meat.
2015 Argiolas Perdera Monica di Sardegna, $17 (91 points)
Full, finely chewy, dry and fresh with notes of sour cherry, red plum, red licorice, salami and cedar.
2016 Valle Reale Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, $15 (89 points)
Light, dry and lightly gripping with notes of raspberry, cocoa, dried herbs, smoked ham and nutmeg.
New Zealand
2017 Villa Maria Pinot Noir Private Bun Marlborough, $17 (91 points)
Light, lean, vibrant and fresh with notes of strawberry, raspberry, peach skin, fennel seed, cocoa and root beer.
2017 Mt. Beautiful Rose North Canterbury New Zealand, $18 (90 points)
Creamy and mellow then crisp and dry with notes of strawberry, peach, cantaloupe and ginger.
Spain
2016 Bodegas Enrique Mendoza Le Tremenda Alicante, $13 (91 points)
Rich, ripe, chewy and dry with notes of boysenberry, dark chocolate, cedar, brown mushroom and singed meat.
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